Apex Legends Developers Reverse Tap Strafing Nerf Following Player Backlash

Developers of Apex Legends have reversed their controversial tap strafing changes following a significant backlash from the gaming community. The adjustment, initially introduced on January 7, had sparked criticism, with many calling it “one of the worst updates of all time.”

While the update primarily focused on weapon and Legend adjustments, a seemingly minor alteration to the battle royale’s movement system caught players’ attention. The 23.1 patch notes indicated, “Added a buffer to tap strafes to combat automated movement tech at high frame rates,” which effectively diminished the skillful maneuver used by top-tier players.

Community Outcry Leads to Rapid Response

The decision to limit tap strafing was met with immediate and widespread outrage. Players, especially those at the highest ranks, were frustrated as the change affected their ability to execute this advanced movement technique. This led to a surge of criticism from professional players and streamers on social media, condemning the developers at Respawn Entertainment.

Just a day after implementing the changes, the developers swiftly rolled back the modification. On January 8, Respawn posted a statement acknowledging the community’s concerns and admitting that the update “affected more than anticipated.”

We just reverted the change that negatively impacted tap-strafing in @PlayApex. For movement aficionados, feedback and feel around movement systems are critical, and there’s legitimate skill expression that we intend to preserve. Our goal is to continue to combat automated…

— Respawn (@Respawn) January 8, 2025

This reversion means that players can once again freely utilize tap strafing, a maneuver that enhances competitive gameplay. Nevertheless, Respawn has committed to exploring a “more elegant solution” for addressing automated movement exploits in the future.

Positive Community Reaction

The quick decision to revert the changes has garnered praise from the Apex Legends community. Many players expressed gratitude for Respawn’s responsiveness to feedback. “Thank you for listening to community feedback,” remarked one player, while another highlighted how this action strengthens the relationship between developers and players.

For some, the reversion brought relief. Former Apex pro Albralelie voiced his sentiments with a simple, “Thank god.” The brief period of adjustment had incited flooding reactions on social media platforms, where current pros and content creators openly criticized the original decision.

One player emphasized, “One thing that makes Apex stand out against any other FPS is the game’s movement,” echoing concerns over the update’s impact. Another user lamented, “I’m sorry but this might be one of the worst Apex updates of all time.”

Quit tap strafing 2 months ago. Bought a new cybertruck, I have an amazing girlfriend, I make a shitload of money and I just bought a new house. I party every weekend, I’m never home. I’m enjoying life. Do yourselves a favor. Stop trying to make apex a career. It’s cringe as fuck pic.twitter.com/ec66Le1brF

— Garret (@Grrted) January 7, 2025

Fortunately, players can now enjoy the core mechanics of Apex Legends as they were prior to the misguided update, restoring the essential skill expression that defines the gameplay.

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